Door-check.



F. W. WEATHERPORD.

DOOR CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.17, 1913.

Patented June24, 1913.

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FRANK WILLIAM WEATHER/FORD, OF TEMPLE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0ROBERT L. WEATHERFORD, OF TEMPLE, TEXAS.

DOOR-CHECK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK 'WILLLAM \Vnarrrnerono, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Checks, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in door checks and has for itsprimary object to provide a device of this character for securing thedoor in its open position, to prevent the same from being blown closedby drafts of air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a check for doors, gates,window shutters, and similar structures which is comparatively simple inits construction, strong and durable in practical use and may be easilyand quickly applied to the door or other movable part and wall orstationary object.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain combinations,constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafterfully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation illustrating the invention and showing the door or otherpart in its open position; Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the latchmember engaged between the ends of the keeper spring. Fig. 8 is anenlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. t is a detailperspective view of the latch member.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates a metal bar which isbent into sub stantially circular form, the ends thereof being spacedapart as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The intermediate portion 6 of thismetal bar extends in a straight line and connects the oppositely bowedarms 7 thereof. At the ends of the intermediate portion 6, ears 8 areformed upon the bar, said ears being apertured to receive screws oranalogous fastening elements whereby the bar may be fixed upon a wall,post or other stationary object. To the spaced extremities of theoppositely bowed arms 7, the laterally extending soft rubber abutments 9are secured in any preferred manner. With these abutments, the door,gate or other movable part is adapted to engage when swung to its openposition.

A heavy leaf spring 10 is arranged between the arms 7 of the bar 5, andthis spring is bent into substantially circular form, the reverselycurved ends 11 thereof being normally held in contact with each other bythe inherent resiliency of the metal and located between the rubberabutments 9. The intermediate portion of the spring 10 has integrallyformed upon its opposite edges, the laterally extending parallel arms12. These arms are apertured and with the apertures, bolt receivingopenings in the arms of a U-shapedclip 13 are adapted to register. Theintermediate portion of this clip extends on the inner side of theintermediate portion of the bar 5 and has clamping engagement upon thespring 10. A bolt indicated at 14 is inserted through the coincidingopenings of the clip and the arms 12 of the spring, and a nut isthreaded upon one end thereof to securely clamp said clip in position.

To the door, gate or other swinging object, the latch member 15 issuitably secured. This latch member consists of an arm integrally formedupon a base plate 16 and the outer end of this arm is enlarged orthickened as indicated at 17 to provide opposite beveled orinclinedfaces 18.

From the above, the operation of the device will be clearly understood.When the door or gate is swung to its open position, the enlarged end 17of the latch member engages between the extremities 11 of the leafspring 10 and forces the same in opposite directions. The rubberabutments 9 not only serve to protect the door from injury and preventnoise by contact with the ends of the bar 5 but also assist the spring10 in resisting the entrance of the latch bar into the space between theends of said bar. The tendency of the leaf spring 10 to return to itsnormal position causes the ends 11 thereof to bear against the inclinedor beveled faces 18 of the latch arm, and to hold said arm againstoutward movement and retain the door or gate in its open position. Theresistance offered by the rubber abutment pieces 9 bearing against theends of the spring materially assists in accomplishing this result. Itwill thus be apparent that it is necessary to apply considerablepressure to the door or gate in order to disengage the latch member fromthe ends of the leaf spring so that the door may be shut or closed.

From the foregoing the construction and several advantages of myimproved check for doors, gates and similar structures will be clearlyunderstood. It will be obvious that the door will be securely held inits open position and liability of the same being closed by air draftsentirely overcome. Owing to the simplicity of the device, it will beappreciated that the same can be inexpensively manufactured. The partsthereof may be easily and quickly applied in position for use and thesame is extremely strong, durable and serviceable for the purpose inview.

While I have above described the preferred embodiment of my invention,it will be understood that the same is susceptible of many minormodifications which may be resorted to without departing from theessential features or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, What portion rigidly mounted upon awall or other support, a substantially circular leaf spring arrangedbetween said arms, means for detachably securing the central portion ofsaid spring to the intermediate portion of said bar, the extremities ofsaid spring being normally engaged and disposed between the ends of saidarms, rubber abutments fixed to the ends of said arms with which theends of the sprii'ig are engaged, and a latch memher having an enlargedend providing opposite beveled faces thereon adapted to engage betweenthe ends of the spring and force the same in opposite directions, saidabutments cooperatin with the spring to retain the latch bar 1nengagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

FRANK WILLIAM WEATHERFURD.

lVitnesses C. C. GRUBBS, W. S. OALLAWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

